In Memoriam
J
JOE DAEHLING
Today Daehling Ranch stands eight stallions and is a major farm in the northern part of the state. Its slogan of “afordable to the small breeder” emphasizes Daehling’s desire to give everyone in the industry a chance to do well. Daehling died Nov. 28 at age 82. He leaves behind June, his wife of 56 years; their daughters, Julia Oldfeld and Joanna Nelson; their sons-in-law, Justin Oldfeld and Bruce Nelson; and four grandchildren. Joe Daehling and his daughter, Julia Oldfeld, at Daehling Ranch. Joe grew up in Germany during World War II, studied agriculture, and spent one year in Sweden as an exchange student on a large dairy. He served Daehling’s love of horses segued into a hobby of driving carone required year in the German army. In 1960 he was sponsored riages, and he always kept driving horses for the many fne carby a distant Daehling cousin and followed his dream to America. riages he owned. He even acquired a carriage that had appeared Upon arrival, he worked on farms in South Dakota and in the in the movie “Hello, Dolly.” Sacramento Delta. For 40 years Daehling Ranch has hosted an annual Carriage In 1961 he joined the U.S. Army for three years and was sta- Drive for the Antique Carriage Club. Joe served on the club’s tioned in Germany. Returning to California in 1964, he married board and as president. June Neuharth and became an auto mechanic by day. Evenings Trough the years Daehling owned and bred several good and weekends he worked his father-in-law’s small ranch. In 1973 runners, many of them California-breds. He bred and co-owned Joe and June, with the help of June’s father, bought the ranch on Sing and Tell, winner of the 2014 Luther Burbank Handicap; Grant Line Road. Fast and Foxy, two-time winner of the Bear Fan Stakes; and As his cattle increased, Daehling became a full-time farmer/ multiple graded stakes-placed Aly Bubba. Holly Evans trained rancher, at times raising corn, alfalfa, clover seed, and tomatoes. all three runners and co-owned Sing and Tell and Fast and Foxy. He sold his cattle in 1982 and started a racehorse boarding faciliDaehling helped promote Cal-breds and the California racty. He also obtained a real estate license and worked part time for ing and breeding industry. He is among those who have brought 30 years with Steele Realty. a mare and foal to Sacramento for the annual Ag Day, making Daehling rode his palomino with the Sacramento County them available at the California Toroughbred Breeders AssociSherif’s Posse for many years. Besides rodeos, he also partici- ation Ag Day booth. pated in an inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., and the New In order to continue his legacy, his daughter Julia Oldfeld, Year’s Day Rose Parade. who has a degree in agricultural business, has been operating Big Daehling also started an ornamental plant nursery and planted Oak Nursery, located at the ranch, in addition to helping her a vineyard of chardonnay and pinot gris grapes on the Cosumnes father run the Toroughbred side. She and her husband, along River bottomlands. He was a member of the Sacramento County with June, will continue to run Daehling Ranch, adhering to the Farm Bureau for 56 years and served for a time on the Board. high standards Joe Daehling has set.
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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED
❙ January 2020 ❙ www.ctba.com
TRACY GANTZ
oe Daehling delighted in showing of Daehling Ranch in Elk Grove. He would drive visitors around the property, pointing out the many good horses that clients kept with him, as well as innovations he put in for the comfort and security of the farm’s boarders as well as his own horses.